Lane 96

Lane 96

A dark and lonely road stretched through a wooded area in the middle of the night. The only illumination came from the full moon staring at it from above. In the distance, twin headlights pierced the darkness, accompanied by the low hum of an approaching car. The highway had been quiet for hours. It was 10:35 PM.

Brian Delorey gripped the wheel of his sedan, trying to stay awake. He had overstayed his usual visit to Virginia, where his aunts and uncles lived. He lived in New Jersey and it was a 6-hour drive back from Virginia, but he enjoyed the quietness and the cold soothing air of traveling at night. Driving past a sign signaling the new lane he was on, Brian thought about all the things he had learned during his trip. Most of his memories were filled with Aunt Jeannette and her words of wisdom about his work-life balance.

His eyes darted to the passenger seat, where his suitcase rested. Inside were photographs and sketches from his trip—proof of a project well done. Brian was a graphic designer, you see, and his job had sent him to Virginia because of the change in scenery and the promise of capturing wildlife in film and photographs. But Brian barely thought about work. Instead, his mind drifted to a strange story his aunt had shared over dinner, about a road where people vanished without a trace.

The memory sent a shiver down his spine. "Just an old wives' tale," he muttered to himself. Yet the thought lingered as Lane 96 stretched on endlessly ahead.

Then, something extraordinary happened.

It came so suddenly that Brian had very little time to react. He slammed the brakes. His car skidded to a halt, throwing him against the seatbelt. Heart racing, he stared ahead. There, beyond the darkness of the woods, a city shimmered like a mirage—tall, luminous buildings that seemed alive with light and color. He blinked, unsure if his eyes were playing tricks on him. But no, the city was real. Impossible, but real.

He had travelled on this road before. Never had he seen a city so close to the highway and so intensely bright. Had he lost his mind?

Brian stumbled out of the car, drawn toward the sight. The forest was silent as he pushed through the underbrush, the glow of the city pulling him closer. But as he reached the edge of the woods, the lights vanished. The city was gone, leaving only a void of farmland and trees. Brian stood frozen, the eerie silence pressing against his ears.

"What the hell was that?" he muttered under his breath.

Then came a strange sound—a low, guttural growl from somewhere behind him. He turned, but saw nothing. Panic set in, and he bolted for his car. The growl grew louder, closer, until it felt as though something was breathing down his neck. He threw himself into the driver’s seat and slammed the door, locking it as the forest around him seemed to come alive with movement.

For a moment, he sat there in stunned silence, hands trembling on the wheel. Then, with a deep breath, he started the engine and sped off down Lane 96. He didn’t look back, but the memory of the city burned in his mind. Where had it come from? Why had it disappeared? And what had been chasing him?

As Brian drove into the night, Lane 96 fell silent once more.